The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has called for nationwide peaceful protests on Friday, intensifying its campaign against the Centre over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The party has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him accountable for what it describes as a failure to safeguard the integrity of one of the country's most important entrance examinations.
In a post shared on social media platform X on Thursday, the CJP released a poster appealing to citizens, students, and civil society groups to join peaceful demonstrations across the country. The party said the protests aim to amplify the concerns of lakhs of students who have been affected by the alleged paper leak and to press for immediate accountability.
The CJP urged student unions, youth organisations, and other civil society groups to coordinate with local authorities to obtain necessary permissions and make logistical arrangements for the demonstrations. It also appealed to participants to read out the demands of students during the protests and ensure that all gatherings remain peaceful.
The nationwide call for protests comes at a time when discussions between the CJP and the Union government are also set to continue. According to sources, a delegation of the party is scheduled to meet Union government ministers at 12:30 pm on Friday. The meeting will be held at the Constitution Club of India, according to CJP spokesperson Saurav Das.
The proposed talks are being closely watched as they represent another attempt to break the deadlock that has persisted over the past month. Earlier this week, the CJP and representatives of the Modi government held their first direct meeting since the party launched its continuous sit-in protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The discussions marked the beginning of formal engagement between the two sides after weeks of demonstrations and public campaigns.
During the earlier meeting, the CJP submitted a memorandum outlining three principal demands. The foremost demand is the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom the party holds politically responsible for the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
The second demand seeks the "release" of activist Sonam Wangchuk, while the third calls for financial compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly lost their lives during the course of the controversy and subsequent protests. The party has maintained that these measures are necessary to restore public confidence and deliver justice to affected students and families.
Meanwhile, one significant development occurred late on Thursday night when activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike. Wangchuk concluded his fast in the presence of BJP National President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, signalling a breakthrough after prolonged discussions with the government.
However, despite the end of Wangchuk's hunger strike, the broader agitation over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak remains unresolved. The CJP has indicated that its nationwide protest programme will continue until substantial action is taken on its demands, particularly the resignation of the Education Minister.
The NEET-UG paper leak controversy has sparked widespread political debate, with opposition parties and student groups raising concerns over examination security, transparency, and accountability. The issue has triggered protests in several parts of the country over the past month, with thousands of students demanding a fair investigation and stronger safeguards to prevent future examination leaks.
Friday's protests and the scheduled meeting between the CJP delegation and Union ministers are expected to play a crucial role in determining the next phase of the agitation. While the government has initiated dialogue with the protesting group, there has been no official indication so far that it is willing to accept the party's primary demand for the resignation of the Education Minister.
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